For the fourth straight year, PLDT and Smart Communications gathered some of the country’s brightest young minds to prove that technology can change lives.
The Innovation Generation (InnoGen) program, now on its fourth season, culminated in a Demo Day at the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), where students showcased homegrown innovations designed to empower persons with disabilities (PWDs).
From a traffic awareness kit for riders with hearing impairments to AI-powered apps that translate sign language into speech, the student-led projects reflected a common goal: making the world more inclusive.
Among the winners was The Mabini Academy in Batangas, whose project HearMate helps cyclists and motorbike riders with hearing challenges stay safe on the road.
Bulacan State University shared the spotlight with REACH, a radar-based tool that translates sign language gestures — bridging communication gaps for the deaf community.
Other student teams focused on expanding opportunities. Jose Rizal University introduced EYEGO, a hands-free navigation tool, while UP Los Baños launched Kaya, an AI-powered app linking job seekers with disabilities to employers.
For lasting impact, Kapalong National High School in Davao del Norte created Deafy, which converts sign language to text and speech, while the University of Cebu-Main developed TrackSense, a smart walking aid for the visually impaired.
Since its launch in 2020, InnoGen has nurtured over 1,500 young innovators, producing 73 working prototypes — six of which have already made it to market. More importantly, the program has become a platform for students to bring to life ideas rooted in lived experiences.
“InnoGen isn’t just about technology,” said Stephanie Orlino, AVP and head of stakeholder engagement at PLDT and Smart. “It’s about giving young people the tools and mentorship they need to create solutions that matter to communities.”
Among the standout teams from the competition were three senior high school teams that developed assistive mobile solutions for individuals with visual and hearing impairments. They included:
- Kapalong National High School (Davao del Norte)
- The Mabini Academy (Batangas)
- Team InnoVision from Jose Rizal University (Mandaluyong)
Collegiate teams also impressed the judges with their innovations, which included wearable devices and safety systems:
- techNerds from Pampanga State Agricultural University (Pampanga)
- TrackSense from University of Cebu-Main (Cebu)
- ClearPath Collective from Mindanao State University-General Santos City
Five collegiate teams focused on creating platforms to connect job seekers with disabilities to employers, such as:
- RevoTech from Jose Rizal University (Mandaluyong)
- Apcas Tech-Alpha from Asia Pacific College of Advanced Studies (Bataan)
- Konek.dev from University of the Philippines – Los Banos (Laguna)
- EM-Power Rangers from Angeles University Foundation (Pampanga)
- Unique from University of San Jose-Recoletos (Cebu)
Several teams concentrated their efforts on developing innovative software solutions aimed at enhancing communication for individuals with hearing and mobility impairments, including:
- PENTAVALENT from Bulacan State University (Bulacan)
- Palabra from Mariano Marcos State University (Ilocos Norte)
- Innovators from First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities (FAITH Colleges) (Batangas)
- ICTDU Dragons T1 from Systems Plus College Foundation
The event also highlighted applications for health, mobility, and emergency response, developed by teams such as:
- StaFit from Jose Rizal University (Mandaluyong)
- Innovare from University of San Carlos (Cebu)
- JEEPNIGO from Davao Central College (Davao)
- Team ODI from Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (Manila)
- Team E.M.M.A. from University of San Jose-Recoletos (Cebu)
